Trip from Inwood, NY to Amherst, NY

Drive Time

7h 45m

Distance

373.8 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Long day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Inwood, NY to Amherst, NY covers 373.8 miles and takes about 7h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West 179th Street, I 95 South, George Washington Bridge (upper level) for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $59.00 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

186.9 miles from Inwood, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 7h 45m drive with frequent turns across 373.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 47 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

West 179th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
West 179th Street	0 mi	0m
I 95 South	0 mi	0m
George Washington Bridge (upper level)	0 mi	0m
New Jersey Turnpike	0 mi	0m
I 80 West	0 mi	0m
Christopher Columbus Highway	0 mi	0m
Keystone Shortway	0 mi	0m
I 380 North	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: West 179th Street — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on Broadway

2

Turn right onto West 179th Street

3

Take the ramp straight toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge, New Jersey

4

Merge slight left onto George Washington Bridge (upper level)

5

Continue straight

6

Keep slight left

7

Keep slight left

8

Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

9

Keep slight left to continue on I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

10

Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike

11

Take the exit slight right toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack

12

Continue on Christopher Columbus Highway

13

Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Shortway

14

Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Shortway

15

Take the exit slight right toward I 380 North: Scranton

16

Continue straight

17

Merge slight right

18

Keep slight right to continue on I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany

19

Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Syracuse

20

Take the exit slight right toward NY 13: Cortland

21

Turn right onto Clinton Avenue

22

Turn left onto Locust Avenue

23

Continue on Albany Street

24

At the end of the road, turn right onto South Main Street

25

Turn left onto Clinton Street

26

Continue on East Lake Road

27

Continue on State Route 41

28

Continue on East Lake Road

29

Continue on East Lake Street

30

Turn left onto East Genesee Street

31

Turn right onto North Fulton Street

32

Turn left onto Arterial West

33

Continue on Chase Street

34

Continue on Auburn Road

35

Turn right

36

Continue straight

37

Turn right onto State Route 414

38

Continue on Ridge Road

39

Take the ramp left

40

Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West: Buffalo

41

Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway

42

Take the exit slight right toward I 290: Niagara Falls

43

Continue on Youngmann Expressway

44

Take the exit slight right toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem Road

45

Turn left onto Sheridan Drive

46

Turn left onto Millersport Highway

47

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 186.9 miles from Inwood, NY.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 82 miles

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 186.9 miles

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Last hour of driving

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Amherst, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Inwood, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Inwood, NY

This is one driving day of about 373.8 miles and 7h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Inwood, NY.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Syracuse, NY

187 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Amherst, NY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Amherst, NY.

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 186.9 mi from Inwood, NY

Ramapo, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Syracuse, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 186.9 miles from Inwood, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$4.01	$59.00	$118.00
midgrade	$4.48	$65.94	$131.89
premium	$4.86	$71.54	$143.07
diesel	$4.69	$69.08	$138.16

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 130.8 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Inwood, NY to Amherst, NY covers 373.8 miles and takes about 7h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are West 179th Street, I 95 South, George Washington Bridge (upper level). Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 186.9 miles from Inwood, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $59.00 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

More trips from Inwood, NY

Inwood, NY to Queens, NY

18.7 mi 43m

Inwood, NY to New York City, NY

12.3 mi 30m

Next Route Ideas

Continue From Amherst, NY

Amherst, NY to Queens, NY 410.9 mi · 6h 42m Amherst, NY to Brooklyn, NY 397.6 mi · 6h 37m